The Recycle Right—CFLs Contain Mercury campaign is focused on educating the public about how and why to recycle the lightbulbs that contain mercury.
CFLs use one-third of the electricity, and last up to 10 times longer, than incandescent light bulbs. CFLs are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and reduce electricity bills—while lessening carbon footprints—but they should not be thrown into the trash.
Nationwide, more than 670 million mercury-containing bulbs are improperly discarded each year. In Montgomery County, CFLs that are thrown into the trash are often mixed with other waste and incinerated. The disposal method can lead to a release of mercury into the environment through breakage and leakage, and ultimately, contaminate the environment and food chain.
Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs or CFLs are a great way to reduce your electricity bill while lessening your carbon footprint. However, these types of bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and should be handled carefully and disposed of properly at all times.
Please DO NOT throw them in the trash. Nationwide, over 670 million mercury-containing bulbs are discarded improperly each year. In Montgomery County most of these bulbs are ultimately land filled or incinerated. These disposal methods can lead to a release of mercury into the environment through breakage and leakage and ultimately contaminate the food chain.
Download and share the English/Spanish flyer here: CFL_Poster
Montgomery County accepts CFLs, tubes, and ballasts from your home at no additional charge at our Household Hazardous Waste dropoff at the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station.
Live in a municipality? Contact your local municipal office for additional information regarding CFLs recycling opportunities in your community.
Montgomery County has compiled this listing through various sources and does not present it as a complete directory of all organizations or companies, nor offer it as an endorsement of any of the organizations.
Location | Accepts bulb-style lights | Accepts tube-style lights |
Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station Household Hazardous Waste drop-off 16101 Frederick Rd Derwood, MD 20855 240-777-6587 |
Yes | Yes |
Amicus Green Building Center 4080 A Howard Ave Kensington, MD 20895 301-571-8590 |
Yes | No |
Christopher’s Glen Echo Hardware 7301 MacArthur Blvd Bethesda, MD 20817 301-229-3700 |
Yes | No |
Christopher’s Hardware 500 Olney Sandy Spring Rd Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-570-1300 |
Yes | No |
Home Depot #2509 7111 Westlake Terrace Bethesda, MD 20817 301-634-3726 |
Yes | Yes |
Home Depot #2551 2300 Broadbirch Dr Silver Spring, MD 20904 301-680-3500 |
Yes – max. of 3 bulbs | Yes – max. of 3 tubes |
Home Depot #2558 14000 Georgia Ave Silver Spring, MD 20906 301-871-0603 |
Yes | No |
Home Depot #2560 21010 Frederick Rd Germantown, MD 20876 301-515-7944 |
Yes | No |
IKEA 10100 Baltimore Avenue College Park, MD 20740 301-345-6552 |
Yes | No |
Lowe’s of Gaithersburg Store #0223 40 Market St Gaithersburg, MD 20878 301-208-0400 |
Yes | No |
Old Takoma Ace Hardware 7001 Carroll Ave Takoma Park, MD 20912 240-839-5170 |
Yes | Yes |
Poolesville Hardware & Propane 19961 Fisher Ave Poolesville, MD 20837 301-428-8925 |
Yes | No |
SHIMMER Salon & Spa @Traville Gateway 9734 Traville Rd Gateway Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 |
Yes | No |
Silver Spring Ace Hardware 815 Wayne Ave Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-565-9150 |
Yes | No |
Strosniders Hardware 10504 Connecticut Ave Kensington, MD 20895 301-933-2207 |
Yes | No |
Strosniders Hardware 6930 Arlington Rd Bethesda, MD 20814 301-654-5688 |
Yes | No |
White’s Hardware Of Olney 15508 Georgia Ave Rockville, MD 20853 301-924-4080 |
Yes | No |
Zimmerman’s Ace Hardware 3801 Sandy Spring Rd Burtonsville, MD 20866 301-421-1900 |
Yes | Yes |
Montgomery Energy Connection provides light bulb exchanges throughout the County. There will be some during the Spring/Summer months so check the CALENDAR for events.
The City of Gaithersburg will be hosting Free, Contactless Shredding Events this year where visitors will be able to drop off light bulbs in a designated bin. Please do not mix lightbulbs in with other E-waste as broken glass would be hazardous for handlers.
CFLs and tubes contain a small amount of mercury. These instructions from the US EPA describe clean-up and disposal guidelines for broken fluorescent light bulbs.
Double-bag the broken CFL or tube in a re-sealable plastic bag and place in your household trash. Do not put CFLs or tubes into your recycling bin.
If you have CFLs, tubes, or ballasts from your business, take them to the Hazardous Waste drop-off area at our Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station.
Thanks!
This is a great source of information for the community we will share at https://seniorsplaces.com/wilshire-estate to make sure everyone is aware of this option
Thank you so very much Bob, we appreciate it!
This is one great article. Full of information that could help my community. I will share this with them.